Drill guide apparatus for perpendicular perforation of the cranium

Claim 1

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) ring means comprising a retaining member configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a spring means and a sleeve member, insertable within said retaining member and operatively associated therewith, said sleeve member comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange member located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said ring means capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition to facilitate the movement thereof; (b) tubular means adjacent and external to said ring means, adapted to guide and support said ring means, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said ring means, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said spring means and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions, wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (c) spring means located adjacent said body portion of said sleeve member and capable of resisting vertical movement of said ring means toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice, said spring means encased within said tubular means (d) a collar member surrounding to an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said ring means, said collar member having grooved portions extending substantially therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, at least one tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of said bit portion; and (e) a plurality of leg members extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, said leg members adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium, said tubular means, said ring means and said leg members being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.

Claim 2

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) ring means comprising a retaining member configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a spring means and a sleeve member, insertable within said retaining member and operatively associated therewith, said sleeve member comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange member located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said ring means capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition to facilitate the movement thereof; (b) tubular means adjacent and external to said ring means, adapted to guide and support said ring means, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said ring means, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said spring means and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions, wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (c) spring means located adjacent said body portion of said sleeve member and capable of resisting vertical movement of said ring means toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice, said spring means encased within said tubular means (d) a collar member surrounding to an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said ring means, said collar member having grooved portions extending substantially therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, at least one tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of said bit portion; and (e) a plurality of leg members extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, said leg members adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium, said tubular means, said ring means and said leg members being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.

Claim 6

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) a retaining ring, configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a flexible spring and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition; (b) a sleeve fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition, said sleeve comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said sleeve further insertable within said retaining ring to form a support assembly, said support assembly capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means; (c) tubular means, adjacent and external to said support assembly, said tubular means adapted to guide and support said sleeve and said retaining ring, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said support assembly, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said flexible spring and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions, wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (d) a spring located adjacent said support assembly and capable of resisting vertical movement of said support assembly toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice, said spring encased within said tubular means; (e) a collar member surrounding an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said sleeve said collar member having grooved portions extending longitudinally therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, at least one tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of said bit portion; and (f) three legs of equal length extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, each of said legs terminating in a free end, said free ends forming an equilateral triangle, said legs adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium; said tubular means, said support assembly and said legs being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.

Claim 7

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) a retaining ring, configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a flexible spring and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition; (b) a sleeve fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition, said sleeve comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said sleeve further insertable within said retaining ring to form a support assembly, said support assembly capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means; (c) tubular means, adjacent and external to said support assembly, said tubular means adapted to guide and support said sleeve and said retaining ring, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said support assembly, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said flexible spring and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions, wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (d) a spring located adjacent said support assembly and capable of resisting vertical movement of said support assembly toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice, said spring encased within said tubular means; (e) a collar member surrounding an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said sleeve said collar member having grooved portions extending longitudinally therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, at least one tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of said bit portion; and (f) three legs of equal length extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, each of said legs terminating in a free end, said free ends forming an equilateral triangle, said legs adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium; said tubular means, said support assembly and said legs being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.

Claim 14

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) a retaining ring, configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a flexible spring and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition; (b) a sleeve fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition, said sleeve comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said sleeve further insertable within said retaining ring to form a support assembly, said support assembly capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means; (c) tubular means, adjacent and external to said support assembly, said tubular means adapted to guide and support said sleeve and said retaining ring, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said support assembly, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said flexible spring and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (d) a spring located adjacent said support assembly and capable of resisting vertical movement of said support assembly toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice; (e) a collar member surrounding an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said sleeve, said collar member having grooved portions extending longitudinally therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, a tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of a bit portion of said drill means; and (f) three legs of equal length extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, each of said legs terminating in a free end, said free ends forming an equilateral triangle, said legs adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium; said tubular means, said support assembly and said legs being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.

Claim 15

An apparatus for accurately and reproducibly guiding drill means during the formation of an orifice in a human cranium, wherein said orifice extends at an angle of substantially 90° to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said orifice, said apparatus comprising: (a) a retaining ring, configured and adapted for engagement with a terminal portion of a flexible spring and fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition; (b) a sleeve fabricated from a self-lubricating thermoplastic composition, said sleeve comprising an open tubular body portion having a first end and a second end and an integrally formed circular flange located along an outer peripheral portion of said first end, said sleeve further insertable within said retaining ring to form a support assembly, said support assembly capable of a restricted degree of vertical, slideable movement within tubular means; (c) tubular means, adjacent and external to said support assembly, said tubular means adapted to guide and support said sleeve and said retaining ring, said tubular means having means for directing said vertical, slideable movement of said support assembly, said directing means comprising channel means formed integral with a base portion of said tubular member entirely around an inner surface thereof and extending into a central bore defined by said tubular member, said channel means configured and adapted for supporting a lower portion of said flexible spring and having an inner wall portion adjacent said central bore separated from an outer wall portion formed by an inner surface of said tubular member by a base portion positioned substantially perpendicularly to and formed integral with both said inner and said outer wall portions wherein said inner wall portion extends a sufficient distance within said bore so as to terminate beyond said second end of said open tubular body portion of said sleeve member to prevent any interference between said second end and said inner wall during said vertical slideable movement of said ring means within said tubular means; (d) a spring located adjacent said support assembly and capable of resisting vertical movement of said support assembly toward said base portion of said tubular means caused due to downward pressure exerted by said drill means during the formation of said orifice; (e) a collar member surrounding an upper surface of a bit portion of said drill means so as to facilitate rotation of said bit portion within said sleeve, said collar member having grooved portions extending longitudinally therethrough to facilitate insertion of said bit portion within said collar member, each said grooved portion comprising, along an inner surface thereof, a tang configured and adapted for engaging an outer surface of a bit portion of said drill means; and (f) three legs of equal length extending from and formed integrally with a lower surface of said base portion of said tubular means, each of said legs terminating in a free end, said free ends forming an equilateral triangle, said legs adapted to rest unsecured upon an arcuate portion of said cranium; said tubular means, said support assembly and said legs being related to each other and to said cranium so as to guide said drill means through said arcuate portion in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to said cranium at said arcuate portion.